Clutch coupled switch operator

Abstract

The present invention provides a clutch-coupled crossarm mounted switch operator. The switch operator of the invention includes rotational motor means, a non-positive contact or infinite engagement clutch mechanism, and an output coupling. The rotational motor means further includes an input shaft to which the clutch mechanism is coupled. The infinite engagement clutch mechanism does not depend on rotational alignment means for engagement of the clutch. The clutch further includes an output shaft to which the output coupling is coupled. The output coupling is in turn coupled to a gang operated switch element that causes the switch contacts of the gang operated switch to open and close. Use of the clutch coupled switch operator thus effects the opening and closing of the gang operated switch contacts. Further, disengagement of the clutch mechanism allows the user to exercise and test the rotational motor means without displacing the contacts of the gang operated overhead high voltage air switch. Furthermore, the present invention includes means to manually operate gang-operated switches.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by letters of patent of the united states is as follows: 
     
       1. A switch operator comprising: a rotational motor, wherein said rotational motor has an output shaft,     an infinite engagement friction clutch coupling, wherein said clutch coupling is coupled to said output shaft of said rotational motor,   wherein said clutch coupling is selectively engageable and disengageable,   wherein said clutch coupling further has an output shaft, and     an output coupling, wherein said output coupling is attached to said output shaft of said clutch coupling,   wherein said output coupling is adapted to be operatively coupled to a switch.     
     
     
       2. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said rotational motor comprises a motor selected from one of the group consisting of: (1) a DC motor, and (2) an AC motor. 
     
     
       3. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said rotational motor comprises a motor operably attached to a torque-modifying unit, wherein said motor is selected from one of the group consisting of: (1) a DC motor, and (2) an AC motor. 
     
     
       4. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said infinite engagement friction clutch coupling is selected from the group consisting of: (1) friction clutches, (2) multiple disk friction clutches, (3) cone clutches, (4) internally expanding shoe type clutches, (5) bi-directional grip roller clutches, (6) centrifugal clutches, (7) cam clutches, and (8) two-way slip clutches. 
     
     
       5. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said infinite engagement friction clutch coupling is coupled and decoupled manually. 
     
     
       6. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said infinite engagement friction clutch coupling is coupled and decoupled mechanically. 
     
     
       7. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said infinite engagement friction clutch coupling is coupled and decoupled electromechanically. 
     
     
       8. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said infinite engagement friction clutch coupling is coupled and decoupled electronically. 
     
     
       9. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said infinite engagement friction clutch coupling is coupled and decoupled magnetically. 
     
     
       10. A switch operator of claim 1 further comprising a housing that supports and protects the components of said switch operator, wherein said housing is attached to said rotational motor of said switch operator. 
     
     
       11. A switch operator of claim 10 wherein said housing includes means to mount said housing to a switch. 
     
     
       12. A switch operator for operating on a switch having a crossarm, according to claim 11 wherein said housing includes mounting means to attach said switch operator to said crossarm of said switch. 
     
     
       13. A switch operator according to claim 11 wherein said housing includes means to attach said switch operator to a switch pole of an overhead, gang-operated switch. 
     
     
       14. A switch operator of claim 1 wherein said output coupling is adapted to be operatively coupled to a switch. 
     
     
       15. A switch operator of claim 14 wherein said output coupling is a lever, and wherein said switch operator further comprises a connecting arm, wherein said connecting arm is coupled to said lever at a first end,   wherein said connecting arm is coupled to an element of an electrical switch at a second end such that movement of said lever effects displacement of said switch through said connecting arm.     
     
     
       16. A switch operator of claim 15 further including a manual operation means to manually operate the switch wherein said manual operation means is attached to said connecting arm. 
     
     
       17. A switch operator according to claim 15 further comprising a manual operation means, wherein said manual operation means comprises a rotating lever arm assembly and a coupling arm assembly, wherein said rotating lever arm assembly comprises a mounting bracket, a first arm, a second arm, and an attachment shaft,   wherein said rotating lever arm assembly is secured to an element of an electric switch at said mounting bracket,   wherein said attachment shaft is journalled in and through said mounting bracket,   wherein first and second arms of said rotating lever arm assembly are attached to said attachment shaft and adapted such that the user may engage them to manually rotate said attachment shaft of said rotating lever arm assembly,   wherein said coupling arm assembly is coupled at a first end to said attachment shaft,   wherein said coupling arm assembly couples at a second end to said connecting arm such that displacement of said rotating lever arm effects movement of said connecting arm through said attachment shaft and said coupling arm assembly, thereby manually displacing the electric switch.   
     
     
       18. A switch operator of claim 17 wherein said manual operation means further includes locking means engaging said rotating lever arms to lock said manual operation means. 
     
     
       19. A switch operator of claim 18 wherein said first arm includes a first hole therethrough and said second arm of said rotating lever arm assembly includes a second hole therethrough, and wherein said locking means comprises: first and second locking struts, said first and second locking struts extending from said mounting bracket of said rotating lever arm assembly,   said first locking strut having a hole therethrough corresponding to the hole in said first arm of said rotating lever arm assembly such that a pin or lock is insertable through both said hole in said first locking strut and said hole in said first arm of said rotating lever assembly to lock said switch when said switch is in an open position,   said second locking strut having a hole therethrough corresponding to the hole in said second arm of said rotating lever arm assembly such that a pin or lock is insertable through both said hole in said second locking strut and said hole in said second arm of said rotating lever assembly to lock said switch when said switch is in a closed position.     
     
     
       20. A switch operator comprising: a DC motor, wherein said DC motor has an output shaft,     a torque-speed modifying unit, wherein said torque-speed modifying unit has an input shaft attached to said output shaft of said DC motor,   wherein said torque-speed modifying unit has an output shaft,     an infinite engagement disk friction clutch coupling, wherein said clutch coupling is operatively coupled to said output shaft of said torque-speed modifying unit,   wherein said clutch coupling is selectively engageable and disengageable,   wherein said clutch coupling further has an output shaft, and     an output coupling wherein said output coupling is attached to said output shaft of said clutch coupling.     
     
     
       21. A switch operator comprising: a rotational motor, wherein said rotational motor has an output shaft,     an infinite engagement multiple disk friction clutch coupling, wherein said clutch has an input shaft,   wherein said input shaft of said clutch coupling couples to said output shaft of said rotational motor means,   wherein said clutch coupling is selectively engageable and disengageable,   wherein said clutch coupling further has an output shaft, and     an output coupling, wherein said output coupling is attached to said output shaft of said clutch coupling,     a connecting arm having first and second ends, wherein said connecting arm is attached to said output coupling at said first end,     wherein said connecting arm is adapted to be operatively coupled to a switch at said second end such that movement of said connecting arm operatively displaces the switch,   a manual operation assembly operably adapted to be connected to the switch, said manual operation assembly comprising:   a rotating lever arm assembly and a coupling arm assembly, wherein said rotating lever arm assembly comprises a mounting bracket, a first arm, a second arm, and an attachment shaft,   wherein said mounting bracket is adapted to secure said rotating lever arm assembly to a switch,   wherein said attachment shaft is journalled in and through said mounting bracket,   wherein first and second arms of said rotating lever arm assembly are attached to said attachment shaft and adapted such that the user may engage them to manually rotate said attachment shaft,   wherein said coupling arm is coupled at a first end to said attachment shaft,   wherein said coupling arm couples at a second end to the connecting arm such that displacement of said rotating lever arm assembly effects movement of said connecting arm through said attachment shaft and said coupling arm, thereby manually displacing an electric switch.     
     
     
       22. The switch operator of claim 10 wherein said housing further includes a bracket attached on the outer surface thereof for mounting said switch operator to a switch.